Tart cherries and fresh basil add a delightful tang, beautiful color and so many health benefits to simple water (or better yet: sparkling water!)
I caught a nasty cold this summer from my mother. She warned me before we went to visit that she was sick, but I seriously (at the time) did not care. I felt healthy and invincible. It was Father’s Day weekend and I was determined to go visit my dad. My kids agreed that we should go despite Gramma’s sickness … so off we went.
My son and I both caught the crud. For about three weeks, we both felt just slightly under the weather, about 70 – 80%. It was still lingering when I went up again to Mom and Dad’s for the 4th of July weekend. My friend texted me (who conveniently lives almost right on the way home from my mom and dad’s place) and said her mom’s tree was loaded with cherries and would I like some? Oh my gosh, that sounded so good, so I said I’d stop by on my way home to pick cherries.
The little tree in her mom’s yard was just LOADED with cherries, even after she and her mom had both picked to their heart’s content. We went out and picked two large containers full of cherries, without really making a dent in the cherry supply. I brought them home, and as I was pitting the cherries, I noticed how much juice was collecting. It seriously seemed a waste to pour that down the drain, so I added it to my water and was amazed at how good that tasted!
Interestingly, I just discovered that cherries are not only a source of antioxidants, they are also a natural source of melatonin. Who knew? So drinking this before bedtime might just help you have the best sleep ever …
I’m happy to report I have finally chased the cold away and I think the cherries played a big part in my body’s recovery. I could feel my body thanking me as I drank this water, every swallow released more positive, healing energy into my body. Even if it doesn’t heal you of any pesky diseases, it just tastes good. And yeah, it is good for you too!
Here are a couple more articles on the health benefits of cherries:
- Cherry Heath Benefits
- Are Cherries the New Wonder Fruit?
- Effects of Antioxidant Effects from Cherries on Diabetes
If you just have a few cherries and want to make antioxidant water, just muddle the cherries in a glass with a spoon to release their juices and then add water.
Print
Sour Cherry Basil Antioxidant Water
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 - 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 – 4 Tablespoons sour cherry juice
- Ice cubes
- A few fresh basil leaves
- 16 oz. filtered or sparkling water (club soda)
Instructions
- When pitting cherries, save the juices.
- Pour the juices into a 16-oz. glass with a bit of ice.
- Top with basil and water. Enjoy!
Notes
To get more juices from the pits: put them in a strainer over a funnel into a glass. Press gently down on the pits to release more juices. If you don’t have sour cherries available to you, try this with sweet cherries.
RECIPE SOURCE: http://www.sumptuousspoonfuls.com/
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This post was shared at Amaze me Monday.
